LANSING — Wednesday, a group of business leaders who are in support of Michigan State University’s Facility for Rare Isotope Beams as well as other particle and laser technologies came together to develop plans to better advance these regional assets.

The group, which is being called the Accelerator Region Work Group, is just one of the many areas of focus under the new administration at the Lansing Economic Area Partnership.

The work group has existed in other forms, all specifically designed to better market FRIB employment opportunities to outsiders, whether that pertains to talent or other business opportunities. The current work group expands the focus, bringing in similar companies, specifically Niowave Inc., as many of the technologies are similar to the FRIB and the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory at Michigan State University.

Niowave is a Lansing company that manufactures components of particle accelerators. It also conducts research into accelerators and related technologies for military and other clients.

“Some have called our region the nation’s ‘accelerator region,’ not just because of the FRIB, but because of the accelerator and spin off businesses that are already doing well in our region and around the world,” said LEAP president and CEO Bob Trezise. “We need to build on all of this, including the FRIB. The workgroup’s goal is to develop an entire industry in our region related to not only the FRIB, but the MSU accelerator technologies.”

Tim Daman, president & CEO of the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce and the workgroup’s other co-chair added, “The chamber did a good job at launching the marketing and public awareness for FRIB, but now we’re ready to expand upon the FRIB and the accelerator community as an economic and job creation engine.”

The committee had its first meeting under the new focus Wednesday afternoon and will continue to meet monthly with partners at LEAP, the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce, Michigan State University, FRIB, NSCL, Niowave Inc., Prima Civitas Foundation, Capital Area IT Council, Martin Waymire Advocacy Communications, the City of East Lansing, and the state of Michigan.